Machine tool



J. H. MANSFIELD MACHINE TOOL Jan. 1, 1946.

6 Sheet's-Sheei 1 Fil ed Sept. 18, 1942 'NVJNTO- C7uds027 WW 319 K J. H. MANSFIELD Jan. 1,1946.

MACHINE TOOL Filed se i. 1a, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllllllll l|.lll |||l| Illlllll .ll lllllllll l II Il llll Jan. 1, 1946. J. H. MANSFIELD 2,392,169 v MACHINE TOOL' Filed Sept.- 18, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 1, 1946; H; MANSFI LD 2,392,169

MACHINE TOOL Filed Sept; 18, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 have-brow @161 w n /Mm wagugys Jan. 1, 1946. J. H. MANSFIELD 7 2,392,169

MACHINE TOOL Filed Sept. l8, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 67(0450/7 0% W040 /e/c2 FMZL, 4A2 Pa. v Md Jan. 1, 1946 I J; s LD 2,392,169

MACHINE TOOL Filed Sept. 18, 1942 e Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Jan. 1, 1946 g 2,392,169

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE 'roon Judson H. Mansfield, Rockford, 111., assignor to V 'Greenlee'Bros. & 00., Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 18, 1942, Serial No. 458,815 25 Claims. (01. 29-33) This invention relates to machine tools of the advanced with a stepy-step motion through a yp n which rk pieces arranged in a row are series of stations arranged in juxtaposed relation advanced step-by-step through a line of stations and each of a length corresponding to the length in h h he pieces are clamped and heldfast in of each stepping movement. The work pieces are predetermined positions while being machined. advanced preferably in a straightline, and spaced One object is to provide a machine tool of the along the path of travel are a plurality of individabove character having novel means for supportual tool units respectively designed to perform ing the work ieces and guiding them during their different operations upon work pieces in their transfer so as to simplify greatly the construction travel through the machine. of the entire organization and also avoid the pos- As shown in Fig. 1, a plurality of'tool units Ili sibility of chips or like interfering with the proper lo 10, In and "1 are spaced along the path location of the pieces.v of travel of the workpieces, certain of the units A more detailed object is to provide for locatencompassing one station, others two, and still ing the work pieces against downwardly facing others three. Thestations intervening between surfaces which-are engaged continuously during the machine units are designated A and thoseoc the advance of the pieces along the line. cupied by the units are respectively designated B, Thevinventionalso resides in the novel and C, D and E. The latter are therefore operating simple construction of the work guiding and locatstations arranged to perform such oper'ationsas ing mechanism. drilling, tapping, milling, boring, etc., whereas the .Another object, is to dowel the work pieces in intervening stations A are idle stations. It will operatin positions inanovel manner. be understood that the individual machine units A further object is to provide a novel mechal0 form per so no part of the present invention. nism for actuating the clamping and dowel mem- As herein shown, they may be of the way type, bers to effect final and accurate location of the comprising tools I l driven by motors l2 on heads work pieces. l3 which are advanced along suitable ways M to- Still another object is to provide a machine ward and from either side or the top of the work 'tool'of the above character in which each work 'pieces in a direction perpendicular to the path piece is transferred first in one direction and then of travel of the work pieces through the machine. in another whereby to expose different sides of the Herein, the tool heads l3 and l3 are advanced work piece for machining. generally longitudinally of the main path of travel Other objects and advantages of the invention and therefore are adapted to operate on opposite will become apparent from the following detailed ends of the work pieces in the terminal stations description taken in connection with the accom- B and E. Suitable power actuators such, for expanying drawings, in which ample, as hydraulic pistons and cylinders 9 (Fig.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine tool or- 9) are provided for advancing and retracting'the ganization embodying the novel features of the tool heads.

present invention. My invention concerns primarily a new and I Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the improved construction and arrangement for supportions of the work guiding and transfer mechporting and positioning work pieces in their travel anism. 4.0 through the machine, and it has special refer- Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a work piece. ence to the mounting of the work pieces upon in- Fig 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the work .dividual carriers to facilitate transfer from stasupporting and guiding mechanism. tion to station, in combination with power actu- Figs. 5 and 6 are sections taken substantially ated clampingmeans'at each operating station along the lines 5-5 and 6-4 of Fig.4. adapted to insure accurate positioning and hold- Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ing of the workat su h station. As will be rectransfer mechanism and its actuator. ognized, work pieces are usually of irregular shape Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the and frequently do not embody surfaces suitable "work supporting parts atthe different stations. for use in locating, positioning and clamping the Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of work accurately with respect to various tool units the tool head at one station. I disposed along the path of travel in an organiza- Fig. 10 is aplan view of the work supports and tion of the character herein contemplated. Ac-

guides at the loading station. cordingly, I provide individual work carriers prov In the embodiment of the invention herein viding marginal edge portions adapted for slidshown by way of illustration, work piece are ing support along parallel guideways, the latter 'on its carrier plate l6. 7 l the plate by screw-actuated clamping members 22 are, for thesake of simplicity, shown as flat solid:

plates generally rectangularin form. However,

for the purpose of supporting work pieces'W' (Figs. 3 and 6) consisting ofirregularly shaped heads of internal combustion engines, the carrier platesare centrally apertured and shaped in the manner specifically shown in Figs. 4 and 7. As thus shown, the plates l6 are square with the 7 central portions of their edges cut back as indicated at |9. The top and bottom surfaces of the margins l1 and 8 are machined accurately so that the margins are of uniform thickness. An annular rib 2|) upstanding around a central opening 2| is adapted to fit in abottom recess in the work piece. Preferably dowel pins (not shown) serve to-locate thework piece accurately The piece is fastened to 35 which aresecured in vertical bores 36 in the overlying parts of the work piece. Near .diagonally; opposite corners, each plateis formed with bushed dowel holes 23 which bear a definite positional relation to the work piece when thelatter is mounted on thecarrier plate H; as above described. r

It will be observed that since the carrier plates 3 and work pieces are rigidly secured together,- the laterally projecting side and end portions of the plate may be said to constitute laterally project- 'ing side and end flanges l1 and l8v which are utilized'in supporting and guiding the pieces during transfer through the successivework staj tions. 'These flanges beingat the bottom of the work piece, all four sides and the top of the latter are left exposed'for the performance of V machining operations thereon.

While the work pieces are'disposed in or are being transferred between the idle and work staftions, they are supported through the medium of their side flanges I"! by an elongated guideway extending from the initial or loading station B to the final work station E. In accordance with 'theinve'ntion, the guideway is constructed with spacedhorizontal surfaces 24 (Figs.,2,- 5 and 6) which 'overlie'the top' surfaces of the flanges IT,

with surfaces 25 which underlie the flanges, and V with vertical surfaces 26- (Fig. 6) that guide the v plates laterally. One of the horizontal guide surfaces is stationary while theotheris movable vertically and urged toward thestationary sur- Jfaceunderspring effectso thatthe two horizontal surfaces bear continuouslyagainst the I upper. and lower surfaces of the work flanges H but permit the work pieces to be shifted along the'guideway. 7 1

In the present instance; the horizontal and verticalguide surfaces 24 and 26 are'stationary and are formed along the overhanging margins of rails or bars 21' extending throughout the line of machines and clamped by-screws 28 against the top, of box-like castings 29. The latter-are provided at each work station and rest on bed structures 30. -The horizontal surfaces 24 on the rails21 face downwardly and serve to locate the work pieces accurately in a vertical direction I while the pieces are being machined. The vertical surfaces 26 are'spaced to receive the work plates loosely between them and thus serve as lateral guides. The other horizontal guide surfaces face upwardly and are formed on rails 3|, which, in this instance, underlie the flanges I1 and preferably i have chip-receiving grooves 32 spaced along their upper edgesand extending diagonally across the rails. .Preferably, there is. one pair of rails 3| 7 at each station, including both idle and work stations, the rails in this instance being of a length slightly greater than the carrier plates 5. Thus, the rails at successive stations are arranged end to end and spacedapart only short distances (see Fig. 5). A bevel 33 is formed on the end of each rail first engaged byan advanc- 1 ing work plate thereby preventing possible interference.

Each rail3| is yieldably-supported at opposite endsandpressed into continuous contact withthe undersides of the plates l6. To thisfend, plungers 34 rigid with the rail project downwardly through and are-'guided'by shouldered bushings the spring, acts between the bushing. 40. and a collar 4| bearing against a shoulder42 (Fig. 6.). At the idle. stations A, the springs 38 act against a shoulder on. the plungers 34 andthe upward movement of the rails 3| is limited by stop nuts 43. At these stations,the plunger guide bushings are supported by a casting 44 which bridges the space between the work stations .and rests on ledges 29 of the castings 29 at the latter stations. 7 T

The four springs 38 which act on each pair of rails 3| and thus support the work plate 6 at its four corners are of sufficient strength to overcome the weight of a work piece so that the margins I! of the carrier plates are pressed between the guide surfaces 24 and 25'at all times.

The upper fixed rails 21 are made in sections for a purpose which will presently appear, but are in effect continuous so that the possibility of any 3| for each station, pressure will always be. applied to each carrier plate and the latter will be 'held against the locating surfaces 24 in spite of any slight non-uniformity in the thickness ofithe different plates. The upper surfaces of thelower rails 3| underlie the plates I6 and are therefore protected, but any chips which may become lodged on these surfaces will be caught. in the grooves 32 and discharged therefromin the sliding movements of the plates.

To hold or clamp the carrier plates firmly against the'locating surfaces 24 while the tools are acting on the work pieces, hydraulically acopposite any tool unit. For this purpose, an hytuated clamps are provided, one for each station draulic. cylinder '45 is mounted on the base 30 with its axis disposed vertically and alined with the center of the carrier plate 16 as it comes to rest in the work station. A piston 46 in the cyland adapted to enter inder has a rod 41 guidedin a bushing 48 and carrying at its upper end a spider 49 having four arms 50 that project diagonally of the work plate. Threading through and locked to the end of each spider arm is an upwardly projecting pin which is slidable in one of the bushings 40 in the raising and lowering movements of the spider. A vertical rod 53 (Fig. 6) fixed to one spider arm and guided in a vertical hole in the cross members of the castings 29 and 30 forms a part of the control mechanism not shown.

The-spider is elevated by admitting pressure fluid to the cylinder 45' through a passage 52. After a rise predetermined by the adjustment of the pins relative to the spider arms, the upper ends of the pins engage the lower ends of the plungers 34, whereupon the clamping pressure applied to the piston 46 is distributed to the four plungers 34 and applied by the rails 3| to the carrier plate I6 thereby pressing this plate firmly against the locating surfaces 24. When the fluid pressure is relieved, the clamp is released and the spider is allowed to descend. If desired, this may be accelerated by admitting pressure fluid to the upper end of the cylinder through a passage 54.,

Means is provided for limiting the upward movements of the rails 3| in the event that there is no plate IS in the work station. Herein, this means comprises a pin 56 on the casting 29 projecting into a notch 51 in eachplunger 34 and cooperating with a wall 58 of the notch to limit the upward movement of the plunger to a position slightly above normal.

Means operating automatically in the upward movement of the spider is provided for shifting the plate 16 laterally as may be required in order to locate it precisely relative to the lines of approach of the tools I I. This means comprises two dowel pins 59 (Fig. 6) havingtapered upper ends the holes 23 as shown in Fig. 6. These pins are replaceably threaded into and upstand from plungers 60 slidable vertically in bushings 6| which are carried by the casting 29. At their lower ends, the plungers are fastened to the spider arms 50. When the spider is in its lowermost position, the dowels are retracted below the plates It. In this way, the dowel means moves with the clamp-applying member but operates to locate the work before the clamping pressure becomes effective. Step-by-step transfer of the work pieces through the stations B to E may be eifected by various kinds of shuttle devices. Herein, a bar 62 extending throughout the line of stations is mounted beneath the plates l6 and above the spiders '49 for endwise reciprocation. The bar is supported and guided by a plurality of flanged rollers 63 (Fig. 6) mounted on the casting 29. Its upper edge is engaged by an overlying lug 64 so as to hold rack teeth on the lower edge of the bar in mesh with a pinion 65 (Fig. 7). The latter is rotated through gearing 66 driven by a rack on a rod 51 of' a piston 68 in a stationary cylinder 69. These parts are mounted in a box 68 which is disposed in and fastened to the base 30 at the last work station D. V

Pawls are pivoted on pins 1! spaced along the bar 62 distances slightly greater than the lengths of the work plates l5. Torsion springs 12 urge the pawls upwardly to positions determined by step pins 13. In this position, the pawls will, when the piston 88 and the bar 82 are fully retracted, be disposed behind the rear edges 19 of the work plates it at all of the stations A to D. Now, when pressure fluid is admitted to the head end of the cylinder 89, the

bar 62 will be moved to the right'a distance equal to the spacing of the stations, the work piece at the last idle station A being advanced into the final work station E as shown in full outline in Fig. 8. The extent of the advance is determined by a stationary stop '15 (Fig. '7) adjustably mounted on the box 68 and positioned to engage'a lug 16 on the pinion 65. 'As the bar advances, the work supporting plates iii are slid along between the guide surfaces 24 and 25, and the plates at the work stations come to rest with the. dowel holes 23 positioned to permit entry of the tapered ends of the dowel pins 59. Finally, the leading end of the actuator bar 61 may engage a stop 19 (Fig. '7) to relieve the gearing of the pressure which the hydraulic actuator continues to apply.

Next, the spiders 49 are raised, as above described,

first to dowel the work pieces and then to clamp the pieces in the final operating positions after which the tool heads I 3 are advanced to machine the pieces. As usual, these heads operate in an automatic cycle and after their retraction out of engagement with the'work pieces, the spiders may be lowered to release the clamps and withdraw the dowel pins thereby freeing the work pieces for advance to the next station.

'To retract the transfer bar 62 preparatory to the next advance of the work piece, pressure fluid is admitted to the rod end of the cylinder 69. In the ensuing movement to the left as viewed in Fig. '1, the work plates engage inclined surfaces on the pawls 10 and depress the latter so that each pawl passes beneath the work piece next to be advanced thereby. When piston 68 reaches the head of the cylinder 69, each pawl end 14 will have passed the rear edge IQ of the plate and sprung up into active positionbehind the latter. To prevent possible sticking of the pawl in its depressed position, a cam lug 80 (Fig. 6) engages the pawl at 8| in the final part of the transfer bar retraction and moves the pawl upwardly with a positive action. s As above indicated, the fixed rails 21,'provid ing downwardly facing positioning surfaces 24,

are made sectional in character. This is for the purpose of permitting an emergency removal of the work. Thus it may happen that because of the breakage of a tool at one operating station, with a resulting failure to perform a preparing or conditioning operation before the tools at the next operative station become operative, the removal of the work piece before it enters the latter station may be necessary. In providing for such removal of the work in the event of an emergency, the fixed rails 21 are made sectional in character with the sections encompassed or included in each of the tool units of a length corresponding to the number of stations thus included, and with the sections between the units made of a length corresponding to the length of the space occupied by each idle station. In Fig. 2 I have shown at the extreme'left one of the stations C opposite tool unit "1, next three idle stations A, then two stations D occupied by the next unit "I and finally an idle station A. In the case of the operating stations, the rails 21 are of a length corresponding to-the space occupied thereby, as for example three stations 0 occupied by the unit l0. However, in the case of idle stations A, each rail section is of a length correspondin to the space occupied by such idle station. In the present instance,

the cap screws 28 are inserted through transverse slots" in the rail sections so that by loostothe: tool head. movement or the latter, .a cam 93 on the bar jacts'on a pin 94 on thelower end of the spider permitting easy-removal or any workpiece from the machine as maybe desired,

The work pieces are moved into: the loading station E along a guideway: 82 (Figs. 1 and 8) 1 which is perpendicular to theguideway defined by the surfaces 24, 25 and 26. This guideway comprises stationary rails 82 alined with cross rails 3P which are interrupted by openings 18 through which the rear end portion ofthetransferhar 82 passes.v The rails 3 l and the rails 3| the spider is at this station is, for the sake of simplicity, actuated by cam means. In the presentinstance it is raised by therearward movement of a bar 90 (Figs. 8 and 9) slidable on the base of the. machine and yieldably connected at its rear end to a lever 91 pivoted at 92 and linked In thef-initial approaching rod 41, causingithe. spider to enter the dowel 'pins 59 in the work plate l6 and then apply the clamp- ,at thefstation B are weldedto a plate 11 (Figs. 3

S, 9 and 1.0) which is supported by the springs S8 the same way as the rails 3| at the other stations; Instead of being actuated hydraulically,

in pressure to the plate 11 and the rails 3| and ti the same as the hydraulic actuators do at the work stations Cand D. This occurs before engagement of the tools with'the, Work. As the head is retracted and the tools withdrawn, the

' clamping pressure is releasedandthe work piece freed. 'Iheplate I7 is provided with holes 'l! for the passage. of the dowel p-ins59. "To permit the work piece to be moved into the station B along the rails 82a and 3| a, to be.

approaching movement of thetool head 13? to 7 enter the dowels and clamp the work plat by pressing the plate 11 upwardly. The work plate is then located as shown .in Fig. 7 against the surface 24 of the longer'rail 2'5, the surface 24 of the-rail 21 and the corner, 99 at the end of the shorter rail 21.

V The work pieces: are" advanced along the auxiliary guideway by the bar..82 (Fig. 7),which carries pawls. W and is arranged to be operated from the rack bar 61. The connection is through bevel gears 83 within the. gear. box, a-shaft .84, and a pinion 85 meshing with rack teeth on 'the bar 62 With. this arrangement, the. bar 62? will make its active stroke, that is, move to the left as viewed in Fig. 7, while the bar 62 is beingretracted. This resultsin movement ,of the last work piece in the main guideway out of the stationE into the first station E along the auxiliary guideway. Then, as the main bar 62 is makingvits active 'stroke, .theauxiliary bar .62 is retracted to thepositionshown inFig. 7. One pawl Ill is beveledas indicated at IDI. to

prevent interference with thework piece which is advanced by the bar .62 into the station E as thebar 62 is being retracted. i

held therein whilebeing operated upon, and I then slid perpendicularly along the undersides of "the rails 27, similar auxiliary fixed rails 55 and 9.6 (Fig; 10) are provided. The former terminates at the end of one rail 2! with itscorner 9T overlying onev cornerof the work plate It in the stationgB. The rail 95 extends along and overlies. one end margin it of the same work plate and this rail abuts the extended end of the otherrail 21. The vertical surface Q8 of the rail 96 guides the work piece laterally as it enters the station B and the extent of this motion is limited by engagement of the advancing margin I l of the pl'atewith the vertical surface 26 of the'longer rail 21. Thus, in the station B, the work plate is 'clamped against the downwardly facing surfaces of the rails 21 and 98 and of. the corner 9'! of the rail 95. By locating the v,

loading'guideway 82 at right angles to the main guideway, one end of the work piece is left ex-' posed at the loading station for machining by tools carriedjby the head 13 At the Work stations C and D,-itwill be observed that the tools operate. on opposite sides of the work pieces.

In operation; the various tool'heads are advanced; and retracted'in timed relation to the step-by-step advance'of the workpieces along the main and auxiliary guideways. Thus, each advance of. the work indexing mechanism to bring new'work'pieces into the stations C and D is followed by doweling and clamping of these pieces and then the tool heads are advanced and retracted. The transfer bar 62. may be retracted while. the tool heads are in motion. .Upon full 7 withdrawal of the toolsv and release of the clamping pressure and retraction of the dowels, the bar may be advanced. to move the line of work 0 pieces one step. The parts are then positioned to start. the next cycle.

transfer motion.

Loading of a work piece into the station A and movement of the auxiliary transfer bar 62 must of course be timed properly relative to the main In this instance, the cycles of the tool heads [3 and.l3 are shorter than those of the heads l3 and may be initiated separately and later and yet will be completed substantially prior to completion of the main head 5 cycles- Thus, the retraction of the head I3 To expose theother end of the work piece for machining by tools on the head lt the main guideway terminates at the work station E (Fig. 1) and intersects an auxiliary guidewa extending, at, right angles to the main guideway: and

may be work stations if'desired. V This guideway is formed by stationary rails 2'! and movable and downwardly facing surfaces 2.4 against wnich the workplates are pressed-upwardly by including a plurality of stations F some of which maybe utilizedto initiate advance of the auxiliary barBZ and retraction of the main bar 62 sothat the finished work piece at the station will bemoved out. of the way and the bar'SZ willbe conditioned for advance of the work pieces by the time that the work pieces at the main lstations are releasedfollowing retraction of the tool heads at the stations. f

Itwill of course be understood that the various tool unitsand work indexing or'transfer mechanism arein practice controlled for operation in a predetermined sequence'by means of a suitable automatic control 'mechanism (not shown). This may be operatively associated with the transfer mechanism as by means of a pinion 8B meshing with rack teeth 81 on the actuator rod 61 ;(Fig., '7). Also suitable means is provided for interlocking the controls to insure execution of the different motions in the proper sequence, which means may be of the general character setforth in my copending application Ser. -No. 413,633, filed October 4, 1941.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the work supporting and guiding structures above described are very simple in construction and yet provide for the accurate positioning of the work .by effectually excluding dirt and chips from the work locating surfaces 24. The associated mechanisms for doweling the work pieces in placeand for applying the clamping pressure are also simple in construction and reliable in operation and of such a nature that falling chips are prevented from influencing their operation. The chips formed by the tools fall through the openings 2! in the'work plates IE, through the spaces between the adjacent work plates, or are pushed out of the grooves 32 in the clamping rails and thus fall down through openings in the castings 29 and 3G. The openings 2| also permit of the passage of the tools in case the work is suspended from the plates I6 instead of being mounted above them.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine tool having, in combination with a tool unit, work supporting and positioning means comprising laterally spaced members providing downwardly facing horizontal guide surfaces, work supporting and clamping rails extending along and disposed below said surfaces, a pair of plungers depending from each rail, tubular vertical guides receiving said plungers in their upper ends, springs enclosed by said guides and urging said plungers upwardly, a member disposed :below said guides, pins upstanding from said member in alinement with said plungers and movable in the lower ends of said guides when the member is raised and lowered, and means for applying upwardly directed pressure to said member to raise said pins against said guides and cause a clamping pressure to be applied to said rails in opposition to pressure exerted on the work by said tool unit.

2. A machine tool having, in combination with a tool unit, work supporting and positioning means comprising laterally spaced members providing downwardly facing horizontal guide surfaces, rails extending along and disposed below said surfaces, plungers depending from said rails, vertical guides receiving saidplungers in their upper ends, springs urging said plungers upwardly, pins slidable in the lower ends of said guides, and a power actuator for raising said pins against said plungers to apply a supplemental clamping pressure to said rails to hold the work against said guide surfaces during the operation or said tool unit.

3. A machine tool having, in combination, laterally spaced members providing downwardly facing horizontal guide surfaces, work supporting means cooperating with said surfaces to position work pieces for a machining operation comprising rails extending along and disposed below said surfaces, plungers depending from each rail, spring means urging said plungers upwardly, a member disposed below said guides, pins upstanding from said member in alinement with said plungers, and means for raising and lowering said member into and out of engagement with said plungers during said machining operation.

Asia machine toolfo p r ti on ork pi c rails and guides having rigid therewith side flanges with upper and lower surfaces, said machine tool having,;in combination, work supporting and positioning means comprising downwardly iacing guides laterally spaced to engage the upper surfaces of said flanges, similarly spaced rails engageable with the undersides of said flanges and mounted for vertical movement, means yieldably urging said rails upwardly to overcome the weight of a work piece supported thereby and press said flanges against said guides while permitting the work piece to slide therealong, means for shifting the work piece along saidguides and rails, and means for applying supplemental upwardly directed pressure to said rails to clamp said flanges between the hile the work piece is being machines, i Y

5. A machinetool for operating on successive work pieces attached to plates, said machine tool comprising, in combination, a plurality of stations arranged in line and including workand idle stations, laterally spaced downwardly facing horizontal guidesv at each of said stations and engageable with the topsurfaces of the work plates slid therealong a pair of rails at each of said stations disposed below said'guides and engageable with the under'sides of said plates, spring means associated with each pair of rails and constantly urging the same upwardly to maintain the rails and guides in constant rubbing contact with saidplates, meansior advancing the plates along said guides, and means at each work station operable to supplement the iorce or said spring means and clamp said plates against said guides.

6,.- A machine tool for operating on work pieces having rigid t erewit side hanges wit upper and lower surfaces, said machine toolhavmg, in combmatroma lineof stations, means providmg downwardly facing guide surfaces laterally spaced to engage the upper surr'aces or said nanges and extending through said stations, a pair or similarly spaced rails engageable with the undersides of the flanges of a, work piece in each or said stations," said rails bemg mounted forvertical movement, means associated with each rail and yieldably urging the same upwardly to overcome,

the weight of the work piece supported thereby and press said flanges against said guide surfaces while permitting they work piecesrto slide therealong, means for shifting the work Pi ces along said guide surfaces andrails with a step-,by-step motion to present each piece to the successive stations, and means for applying supplemental upwardly directed pressures to the individual pairs of rails to clamp the work piecespbetween the rails and guide surfaces at each station.

7. A, machine tool'having, in combination, a plurality of machining stations arranged in a line, a stationary guide extending throughout said line of stations, means for supporting work pieces for movement into and out ormachining positions at such stationsincluding guide members at the respective stations movable toward and away from said guide and yieldably urged toward the latter, and individual power actuators-for applying a supplemental force to said members to press the latter. toward said guide during machining operations at said stations.

8. A machine toolhaving, in combination, a-

plurality of work stations arranged in a line, means providingstationary downwardly facing guide surfaces spaced laterally and extending through said line of stations, means for supporting work pieces for movement into and out of position relative to-said work stations including toward said guide surfaces guide'members at the respective stations not able toward and away from said guide surfaces and yieldably urged toward the latter, and individual power actuators for applying a supplemental force to said members to press the latter erations at said stations.

9. A machine 'tool'having, in combination, a machining station, a plurality of plates each adapted for the attachment of a work piece thereto,-laterally spaced pairs of guides adapted to receive the margins ofa row ofsaid plates between them, one guide of'each of said pairs being fixed and the other being bodily movable toward the fixed guide, means yieldably urging the movable guide toward the fixed guide-to maintain continuous contact between said plates and guides, means for transferring a row of said plates along said guides, and power actuated" means for applying pressure to said plates to clamp the latter against said fixed guide at said station. I

during machining op- 10, A machine tool for operating onsucces sivework pieces attached to-plates each having,

dowel holes therein, said machine tool compris-- ing, in'com'bination, laterally spaced downwardly facing horizontal guides engageable with-the top surfaces of a work plate slid therealong, rails disposed below said guides-and engageable with the undersides of said plate,'spring means-constantly urging the same upwardly to maintain the rails and guides in constant rubbing contact with, said i plate, a'member reciprocable vertically-beneath said rails to apply thereto a force supplementing said spring means and clamping said plate against said guides while the work is being mashined, and dowel pins-carried bysaid-lmember and adapted to-enter said dowel holes durin the initial upward movement of the member to -11, A machine tool having, in ---combination apply said clamping pressure.-

receiving a row of work pieces and supporting the latter formovement along'the guideway relative to said units,-a second guideway extending at right angles to said first guideway and adapted to receive a work piece moved laterally from said first guideway, a member reciprocable back and plurality of plates each adapted forthe attachment of a work piece thereto, guideways adapted to receive the margins of a row of said plates between them, and each providing a fixed positioning surface, a plurality of tool units spaced along said guideways, means yieldably urging said plates toward said fixed surface, means for trans ferring a row of said platesstep by step along 7 said guideways, and power means for applying pressure to the plates at each of said tool units to clamp the latter against said fixed surface.

'. A machine tool comprising, in combination,

"a plurality of'tool units-arranged in spaced relation, laterally spaced rails having downwardly facing surfaces, a plurality of work carrying 7 plates having marginal edge portions adapted to with a work-supporting plate to which -awork piece is secured so as to formoppositelyprojecting fianges,- means providing stationarydoWn wardly facing guide surfaces for sliding engage-- mentby said flanges; means supporting said.

, flanges to maintain the same inconstant con-- tact with -said surfaces, a vertically movable l member operable in. its upward movement to' apply a supplemental pressure to the work piece and clamp thelatter against said surfaces while the work piece is being machined, the clamp pressure being relieved during loweringaof the member, and means rendered active automatically in the upward movement of said memberv before clamping of the work piece and operable to engage the work piece and dowel the latter in place relative to said guide surfaces. 7

12. A machine tool having, in combination,

meansproviding stationary downwardly facing guide surf-aces for'engagement by members rigid with the work pieces to be operated upon, spring pressed means normally-en aging a Work piece upwardly to maintain the same in constantcontact'with said surfaces, a member movable up-' wardly to apply a supplemental pressure to said work pieces and clamp the latter against said guide surfaces whilethe work pieces are being machined, and dowel means carried by said memher and operable in the upward movement of the-member to engage and locate the work piece laterally of said surfaces before the clamping pressure becomes effective.

-13.'A machine tool having, in combination with a plurality of tool units, an elongated guideway ment.

, engage said downwardly facing rail surfaces,and I meansfor supporting said plates for movement along said rails, said rails including sections arranged for movement out 'ofretaining relation to said'marginal edge portions of the plates to permit'of the removal of said plates during their passage between saidunits;

16. A machine tool comprising, in combination, an elongated bed, a plurality of tool units-spaced along said bed, a plurality-of work supporting r plates of uniform size, means on said bed slidably supporting said plates for movement from one of said stations to the'other comprising laterally spaced rails providingdownwardly facing surfaces for engagement by marginal edge portions of said plates, the'distance betweensaid units being a multipleof the dimension of the plates lengthwise of'the bed and said rails com. prising independently movable sections of a length corresponding to'the length of said plates and secured to the bed for lateral shifting move- 17. A machine tool having, in combination, a plurality of spaced tool units, means for supporting and guiding work piecesfrom one tool unit to another comprising a pair oflaterally'spaced A faces of the guideways while the Q arplurality of spaced tool guideways and work carriers having upper and lower guide faces for coaction with saidguide ways, means for advancing the carriers along said guideways, each of the guideways having vertical-- 1y spaced guiding and positioning surfaces incontinuous contact-with the upper and lower guide faces of the carriers during the movement of the latter along'the guideways, and power means 'operative intermittently to force said upper guide" faces of the carriers into engagement with the downwardly facing guiding and positioning surwork pieces are being machined by said tool units.

is. A machinetool having, in combination with means forsup units,

portingaiid' guiding 'work pieces for presentation to said tool units successively, comprising a pair of laterally spaced guideways, a series of work carriers having marginal edge portions slidable in said guideways, each of the guideways having downwardly and inwardly facing guide surfaces and said marginal edge portions of the carriers having top and edge faces for coaction respectively with said downwardly and inwardly facing guide surfaces, means operative to maintain the top faces of said marginal edge portions in continuous engagement with said downwardly facing guide surfaces in the travel of the carriers along the guideways, and means operative at each of said tool units to force said upper guide faces on the carriers into engagement with the downwardly facing guide surfaces of the guideways.

19. A machine tool having, in combination, a plurality of working stations spaced apart and each having a tool unit, means providing stationary downwardly facing abutments at said stations for positioning work pieces for machining operations by said tool units, each of the work pieces having a part rigid therewith providing an upwardly facing locating surface for coaction with said abutments, means for advancing the work pieces from one work station to the next, members extending between said work stations and disposed in overlying relation to said locating surfaces so as to cover the same, and spring means acting to hold said locating surfaces and saidmembers in continuous sliding engagement during the movement of the work pieces between stations.

20. A machine tool having, in combination, a plurality of working stations spaced apart and each having a tool unit, means providing stationary downwardl facing abutments at said stations for positioning work pieces for machining operations by said tool units, each of the work pieces having a part rigid therewith providing an upwardly facing locating surface for coaction with said abutments, means for advancing the work pieces from one work station to the next, and spring means urging said locating surfaces toward said abutments so as to maintain such surfaces in sliding engagement with the abutments during the movement of the work pieces into said stations.

21. A machine tool having, in combination, a plurality of working stations spaced apart and each having a tool unit, means providing stationary downwardly facing abutments at said stations for positioning work pieces for machining operations by said tool units, each of the work pieces having a part rigid therewith providing an upwardly facing locating surface for coaction with said abutments, means for advancing the work pieces from one work station to the next, guide members extending between said work stations and disposed in overlying relation to said locating surfaces so as to cover the same, and means yieldably holding said locating surfaces in sliding contact with said guide members and said abutments successively during the advance of the work pieces from station to station.

22. A machine tool having, in combination with a tool unit, laterally spaced members providing downwardly facing horizontal guide surfaces, work supporting means cooperating with said guide surfaces to position work for machining operations by said tool unit, said supporting means comprising clamping members disposed below said surfaces, spring pressed plungers yieldably supporting said members, and power actuated means operative to apply an upward clamping pressure to said rails through said plungers.

23. A machine tool having, in combination, a plurality of working stations spaced apart and each having a tool unit, means providing downwardly facing abutments at said stations for positioning workpieces to be operated on by said tool units, each of said workpieces having a plate rigid therewith providing upwardly facing locating surfaces along opposite marginal edge portions for coaction with said abutments in positioning thev workpieces, guideways extending between said stations each comprising stationary members providing downwardly facing guide surfaces, and movable members providing opposed upwardly facing guide surfaces, said members being spaced apart to receive the marginal edge portions of said plates, means for moving said plates from one station to another along said guideways, and means yieldably urging said movable members toward said stationary members to maintain the locating surfaces of said plates in continuous engagement with the guide surfaces of said stationary members during the movement of said plates whereby to prevent the deposit of chips or other foreign material on said locating surfaces.

24. A machine tool for operating upon workpieces having rigid side portions providing opposite locating surfaces, said machine tool having a plurality of tooling stations, means for guiding and supporting the workpieces for movement from one tooling station to another comprising stationary guide members providing positioning surfaces for coaction with one of the locating surfaces of each of the workpieces, elongated movable guide members supported in opposed relation to the stationary guide members and having rigid therewith plungers projecting perpendicular thereto, means supporting said plungers for guiding the movable members toward and from the stationary guide members, spring means acting on said plungers to urge the movable guide members toward the stationary guide members, and adjustable stop means coacting with said plungers to limit the movement thereof relative to their supporting means.

25. An extended guide construction for guiding workpieces along a path from one work location to another, wherein said workpieces are provided with laterally projecting portions presenting upper and lower guide surfaces at each side thereof, said guide construction including a pair of laterally spaced guideways for receiving the workpieces therebetween and for guiding said laterally projecting portions as the workpieces advance from work location to work location, each of said guideways comprising parallel fixed and movable guide members extending along the path of movement of the workpieces and spaced apart vertically for receiving said projecting portions therebetween, yieldable means acting upon the movable guide members to urge them toward the fixed guide members to maintain continuous rubbing contact between the guide members and said laterally projecting portions of the workpieces, and means at each work location for forcibly urging said projecting portions while in contact between said guide members vertically against said fixed guide members to fixedly clamp said projecting portions thereto and thereby fixedly locate the related workpiece at the work location.

JUDSON H. MANSFIELD. 

